Paris’ Karim Bonnet — who started out modifying second-hand clothes into what he called a “post-punk” look — sent his models down an open-air catwalk outside the capital’s Gare de l’Est, to the in tears sound of the pipes.

One fashion model wore a bodice of edible-looking white pearls across her back, her breasts naked under a draped shirt of sheer lace, and tufts of appalling pink tulle adorning the toes of her balance-defying shoes.

There was a bricolage, pick-and-mix think to Bonnet’s dresses made of thick, rug-like, multicolored hush-up, cut from old jute sacks or brown paper bags, or the utilitarian-looking chains use for shoulder straps.

Brooke Taylor — who among his real-life partner Nana Aganovich forms the London-based duo Aganovich — told AFP their spring/summer 2011 appear is “a puzzle, which lets you unite and accessorise clothes, collars and sleeves.”

But here the tone was sober, austere even, with clean black-and-white lines, only broken up by the infrequent oil-stain like red print, enthused by poppies by the US photographer Irving Penn.

The design duo set up a rusty anchor and piled-up ship chains in the centre of a distinctive Marais courtyard to showcase their latest look.

D&G collection discover its gardening roots at Milan Fashion Week for spring/summer 2011.

Gertrude Jekyll would have thrown down her pruning shears in horror; and Alan Titchmarsh would almost certainly be doubled up with laughter in the herbaceous border, but the Italian fashion duo of Dolce & Gabbana have wagered a claim to the English country garden as inspiration for their latest collection.

Gardening – and all the suitable tools and paraphernalia that goes with it – was the theme of the two designers’ younger, dispersal line, called D&G, which was shown at Milan Fashion Week.

Most keen British gardeners pull on their oldest T-shirts and trousers as they head out for a day of dead-heading and digging.

The light-hearted fantasy obtains in hydrangea-printed shorts-suits, floral aprons over gingham bloomers, and linen dungarees with freesia-print bib-fronts. T-shirts were printed with images of “Snow White” in a garden, surrounded not by garden gnomes, but a few of the Seven Dwarves.

Completely suited for a garden party were a host of frilled and flounced chiffon dresses, printed with a combine of violets, roses and mimosa, worn with matching, floral-print, basket-weave, platform sandals, and bandanas.